A historic Black church in Washington, D.C., is taking a bold step to expand its social justice efforts. The Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, which had its Black Lives Matter sign vandalized by members of the Proud Boys, is launching a project to foster discussions on political, spiritual, and emotional issues. The initiative aims to strengthen activism and support national social justice organizations.
A Platform for Social Justice Conversations
The new project will be featured on the church’s website and will provide a space for discussions on pressing social justice concerns. Reverend William Lamar, the church’s pastor, emphasized that the platform will encourage people to think about the next steps in their activism.
“It will be a place for people to think about what we do next, how we move forward,” said Lamar in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY.
The initiative will focus on key issues such as environmental justice, health disparities, and food insecurity, aiming to deepen existing efforts and drive meaningful change.
Legal Victory Against the Proud Boys
This move comes after a Washington, D.C., judge ruled that the Proud Boys could no longer sell merchandise featuring their name or symbols without permission from the church. The ruling allows the church to claim profits from any sale, transfer, or licensing of the Proud Boys’ trademark.
“We own the trademark to a violent white supremacist organization, and we intend to take that evil and use it for good,” Lamar stated.
The legal action was taken after the Proud Boys failed to pay a $2.8 million judgment awarded to the church.
Proud Boys Leader Responds
Enrique Tarrio, a former leader of the Proud Boys who was involved in the vandalism of the church’s sign in December 2020, dismissed the court’s ruling.
“We don’t care because let somebody else have it,” Tarrio told USA TODAY.
Tarrio, who was among the nearly 1,600 people pardoned by former President Donald Trump for their roles in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, also said he plans to create personal shirts mocking the situation.
“So I’ll be making personal shirts that call us the African Methodist boys, since they want to take our trademark,” he added.
Despite Tarrio’s defiance, the church remains focused on its mission and has not responded to his comments.
Strengthening Activism and Community Support
The Metropolitan AME Church, one of the oldest Black churches in Washington, D.C., has long been a hub for civil rights activism. Recently, it hosted a rally on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, where speakers emphasized the need to protect civil rights under the current political climate.
Lamar hopes the new initiative will amplify activism and provide more support for those working toward justice.
“Our strategy is to deepen the work that already exists,” Lamar stated.
The church has replaced its vandalized Black Lives Matter sign with an even larger one, reinforcing its commitment to the movement.
The Metropolitan AME Church’s initiative represents a powerful response to past injustices, using legal victories and activism to drive meaningful change. By creating a platform for discussions on social justice and leveraging its newfound control over the Proud Boys’ trademark, the church aims to transform adversity into an opportunity for progress. This move not only strengthens its mission but also sets an example for other organizations fighting for equality and justice.
